Top Planning Tips for Your Day at Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom is the iconic Walt Disney World Park. Known for Cinderella Castle, this Disney Park is a must-do for almost all Guests. From fantasy to the future, Magic Kingdom has a little of everything for Guests to explore.

It can be a lot to take in when you dive into how to tour Magic Kingdom. To help you have a magical time, we have some top planning tips specifically for your day at Magic Kingdom. Use these to help plan a magical day at Magic Kingdom.

Magic Kingdom Has Six Lands

The first tip to planning your day at Magic Kingdom is understanding the Park’s layout. Download the My Disney Experience app and look at the map to explore where everything is located.

Magic Kingdom is set up like a spoke and wheel. Cinderella Castle and the hub is the center, and six well-themed lands are spread around it. Those six lands are Main Street, U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland.

Take time to dive into the themes of each land by getting familiar with what rides, attractions, and dining are available in each area. By having a solid understanding of the layout of Magic Kingdom, you will feel more confident when you arrive and begin exploring.

Use My Disney Experience

We already mentioned downloading the My Disney Experience app to use the map feature, but you will also want to dive into other components. The app will help you see wait times, entertainment times, Mobile Order food, and even bathrooms around the Park.

We also recommend looking into Disney Genie, the free planning feature found within My Disney Experience. If you set up your Tip Board, Disney Genie will help you tour the Park throughout the day. This is great for those who don’t want to or feel comfortable making a touring plan alone. Even if you have created a personalized touring schedule, Disney Genie can significantly help with forecasted wait times and other suggestions you might not have thought about.

My Disney Experience will be a massive help in navigating Magic Kingdom. Download it before your vacation to familiarize yourself with it before you arrive at Walt Disney World.

Related: Essential Preparations: Preparing My Disney Experience

Plan for Two Days

Plan two days for Magic Kingdom during your trip if you have time. Two days allow you to slow down slightly and not feel as rushed. There is so much to see, do, and experience at Magic Kingdom that doing so during one day isn’t possible. Having two days to enjoy in Magic Kingdom will allow you to spread out all your must-dos without feeling rushed

Two days in Magic Kingdom also allows you to enjoy longer experiences, such as watching the Festival of Fantasy parade or seeing Monsters Inc Laugh Floor. Having two full days in Magic Kingdom, you can truly enjoy all its magic.

Genie+ Is A Good Choice

Genie+ is a paid feature found within My Disney Experience. When purchasing Genie+, Guests are given access to the Lightning Lanes of specific experiences throughout the Park. This allows them to bypass the longer standby lines and enjoy more time in the Park.

At Magic Kingdom, we recommend purchasing Genie+ because of the many attractions available with your purchase. Over twenty different interests are included with Genie+ in Magic Kingdom. This is the most out of the four Parks and makes this feature worth the investment.

Having so many experiences to choose from in Magic Kingdom also means that it is easier to find availability for attractions throughout the day. Guests can use Genie+ to get a lot done in a shorter amount of time.

All About Tron: Lightcycle Run

The newest and hottest attraction at Magic Kingdom is Tron: Lightcyle Run. This high-speed coaster takes Guests on an epic ride through the light cycles. If you want to experience this rush, purchase an Individual Lightning Lane or join a virtual queue. Right now, there is no standby option for Tron: Lighcyle Run.

Before arriving at Magic Kingdom, plan how and if you want to experience this ride. Dive into your options and what they mean. Knowing how to join a virtual queue or purchase an Individual Lightning Lane is essential. We dive deeper into these options in our post on Tron, and all you need to know is HERE.

Go Early

Guests can enter Magic Kingdom before posted opening. Main Street, U.S.A. is opened, as are the shops, around an hour before the published opening time. Guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort can head to Fantasyland and Tomorrowland thirty minutes before opening for early entry.

Going early gives you a considerable advantage as it gets you ahead of the crowd and allows you to experience low wait times for some popular attractions. We love getting to Magic Kingdom early to enjoy the quiet of the morning as the magic begins for the day.

See Characters

When heading to Magic Kingdom, you can find many characters throughout the Park. Magic Kingdom is a great place to meet the princesses at Princess Fairytale Hall. You can find Mickey Mouse welcoming Guests at Town Square Theatre.

You can also see numerous characters during the Festival of Fantasy parade and the different cavalcades that occur throughout the day. Use the My Disney Experience app to make sure you get to see your favorite character.

Happily Ever After is a Must

Enjoy the night-time spectacular of Happily Ever After to wrap up your evening. This fantastic show creates magic using fireworks, projections, and music. You can also book a dessert party if you aren’t big on crowds. These give you access to desserts and a private seating area with fewer people.

Don’t skip out on Happily Ever After to wrap up your night at Magic Kingdom.

Those are some top planning tips for your day at Magic Kingdom. We hope they help you get your planning started. Need more help? Check out our posts below for more tips and tricks.

Related: Dos and Don’ts of Magic Kingdom

Related: Top Ten Must-Experience Rides at Magic Kingdom